Summer

Known as “Caviar d’Aubergine”, this eggplant caviar dip is a staple of the French apéro: the pre-dinner snacks and drinks. It is a creamy and flavorful dip made of roasted eggplant, shallots and garlic, seasoned with fresh herbs and seasonings. It yields delicious savory and smoky flavors and an utterly satisfying texture that goes hand-in-hand with toasted bread and a crisp glass of wine in Summer.

Known as “carrés aux fraises”, these strawberry oat bars belong to the long list of baked goods the French love to whip up in the Spring. They yield a tangy homemade filling made of fresh strawberries sandwiched between a crisp and buttery oat crumble. This is a delicious hand-held treat to be served for dessert or packed up to enjoy at a sunny picnic.  

Known as “Carottes Rapées”, this French Grated Carrot Salad is ubiquitous in all French regions. This standard bistro fare is essentially a salad of grated carrots with herbs, a simple dressing and a heavy sprinkle of raisins and nuts for added crunch, chew and flavor. This salad is crunchy, tangy, refreshing and a healthy pop of color for any table.

These Lemon Poppy Seed Sablé cookies are melt-in-your-mouth French shortbreads that I recommend for any season, any occasion, or any reason. They offer a burst of zesty lemon, a gentle crunch from earthy poppy seeds, all wrapped in a rich buttery flavor. With their delicate, sandy texture, these sablés are perfect to pair along with your afternoon tea or coffee.

Deviled eggs seem to be a favorite at any party… and for good reason! This popular French version, known as “Oeufs Mimosa”, presents hard-boiled eggs cut in half and stuffed with a rich and creamy filling of egg yolks, mayonnaise, Dijon mustard and fresh herbs for classic French flavor. Read along for another fun French twist that explains the “Mimosa” name.

This Biscoff Tiramisu, knowned as “Ch’tiramisu” is the French answer to Tiramisu. This popular Northern French dessert is made from layers of mascarpone cream and coffee soaked speculoos cookies – giving it a subtly spiced and warming flavor. This simple yet utterly delicious twist on the famous treat is a great no-bake dessert that’s even better when made in advance. What’s not to love?

Halfway between a cake and a pie, the classic Basque Cake, known as “Gâteau Basque”, is a staple from southern France and northern Spain – the lands of the Basque people. It has a deliciously rich and buttery double layered crust encasing a delicious pastry cream. Although locals tradtionally serve this cake to accompany coffee or tea, its elegant crosshatch pattern on the top gives it a rustic charm and makes this cake plenty elegant for special occasions, or as a centerpiece for dessert.

Here’s to rustic summer baking at its best! This fresh apricot crisp features sweet apricots baked under a buttery oat crisp topping, until hot and bubbly. This is a perfect laid back summer dessert to serve simply as is, with a scoop of vanilla ice cream – or a dollop of crème fraiche on top, in true French fashion.

Known as Croquettes de Courgettes, these French style Zucchini Fritters are a perfect Summer treat and delicious way to sneak more veggies into your day. They are made with a heaping amount of zucchini, onion, garlic and nutty Gruyère cheese – which makes these fritters perfectly tender inside and crispy outside. They’re fun and easy to make, and always disappear fast.

Few things can satisfy your sweet-tooth more than a quick, easy and extremely delicious chocolate cake. And for this, this Dark Chocolate Olive Oil Cake hits the mark with a bulls-eye. Made with olive oil instead of butter, its yields a deep dark chocolate taste, intensified by the richness of olive oil. It tastes very chocolatey, yet has an airy and light texture that makes it suited for any occasion, any toppings and any season.